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1. COVID-19 hospitalizations in Maine have decreased by 45 percent and the number of critical care patients has dropped by 80 percent in the past two weeks. Thursday there were 152 hospitalized, including 46 in critical care and 23 on ventilators. (PRESS HERALD)
2. Maine-based WEX announced on Thursday that it has issued a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all of its in-office workers in the U.S. Only fully vaccinated employees, contractors and visitors can enter a WEX facility moving forward. (WMTW)
3. According to court documents Max Linn, former U.S. Senate candidate, pointed a gun at a former campaign staffer. Matt McDonald alleged that Linn gave him money to invest in cryptocurrency but Linn reversed course and wanted to buy drugs falsely touted as COVID-19 cures. Linn pointed a gun in McDonald’s direction when the two met to try to resolve the dispute. (WMTW)
4. Eighteen former NBA players (including 5 former Celtics) were charged Thursday with pocketing about $2.5 million illegally by defrauding the league’s health and welfare benefit plan. (NEWS CENTER)
5. Dance troupe ‘Bandaloop” used climbing equipment to dance on the sides of buildings. The group is performing for free at the Canopy by Hilton at the Portland Waterfront Friday at 3 and 4:30 p.m. and Saturday at 1:30, 3 and 4:30 p.m. (ESPN)